Brock Boeser has a heartbreaking message for Vancouver Canucks fans
Photo credit: The Hockey News
It's fairly clear that after nine seasons with the Canucks, Brock Boeser will not be resigning with the team this offseason.
During the Vancouver Canucks' year-end media session on Friday, Brock Boeser expressed a deep connection to the city, saying that Vancouver will always feel like home to him, adding that if this is the end, he'll be back often.
Steve Ewen from The Province writes that the Canucks chose not to trade the 28-year-old at this year's deadline, and when asked about it, general manager Patrik Allvin hinted at Boeser's high value by saying, «If I told you what I was offered for Brock Boeser, I think I'd have to run out of here, you wouldn't believe it.»
"There were reports that the Canucks were looking for a first-round pick for Boeser and couldn't get one, and that first-round picks were available to them. There were undeniably substantial returns in trade, including one-time Canuck winger Anthony Beauvillier going from Pittsburgh to Washington for a 2025 second rounder." -Ewen
Boeser initially told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre on April 8, before the Canucks played in Dallas, that it was unlikely that he'd remain with the team next season and beyond.
Ewen also writes that Canucks fans have a strong emotional connection to Boeser, having followed his journey from the very beginning. Many fondly recall his NHL debut in March 2017 in his home state of Minnesota, when his parents, Duke and Laurie, announced the starting lineup in the locker room, followed by Boeser scoring his first NHL goal that same night.
"The Canuck faithful have seen Boeser cope with the death of his father in May 2022, after Duke's Parkinson's disease, a brain injury from a car accident, cancer, a heart attack and dementia. There are few players in team history who've had their lives on display to that degree." -Ewen
Boeser has recorded six 20-plus goal seasons during his time with the Canucks, including 25 goals this year. His most productive season came in 2023-24 when he hit the 40-goal mark.
He thrived when paired with a playmaking center like J.T. Miller, and while his numbers dipped following Miller's trade this season, the Canucks dealt with so many moving parts that it's tough to pin his dip in production on any one reason.
Boeser and the Canucks just wrapped up a three-year contract that carried a $6.65 million cap hit per season.
Boeser has appeared in 554 regular season games for the Canucks, the 22nd most in franchise history, and has tallied 204 goals (8th all-time) and 434 points (12th all-time) with the team.
The Canucks had no choice but to turn the page on such an disappointing season. Wherever Boeser ends up, we wish him nothing but the best throughout the rest of his playing career. He'll always be welcomed back to Vancouver with open arms.
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